Olympics 2012

Forgive a digression from the usual format of my columns, but I am completely enthralled by our Olympic Games. Even this Government’s woeful performance must wait.

I am chained to my TV by amazing images of personal triumph and tragedy. In the car, Radio 5 Live serves up fabulously graphic commentaries and at other times my laptop reports the twists and turns of this cornucopia of sport and human endeavour. I. Am. Loving. It !!

As I was typing, our women's double sculls just rowed to gold! Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase got silver. More tears, more triumph, heroic effort and raw emotions. Amazing performances by Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and our very own Christine Ohuruogu.

From the very beginning, with the spectacular Opening Ceremony celebrating a people’s history of Britain, positive pictures of Stratford and Britain have beamed around the world.

More than 1,000 Newham residents, including 230 children, participated in the Opening Ceremony Watching on TV, I really envied them. Imagine what an exciting and totally awesome experience it was in that magnificent Ceremony, in that beautiful stadium.

I’ve been to the Olympic Park twice: to a dress rehearsal and an all-too-short, but magical, 90 minutes, to watch Michael Phelps win a 16th gold medal. The atmosphere throughout the Park is just fabulous. The volunteers are simply magic.

My proudest moment is yet to come. I am to present a medal at the Paralympics. I can’t express just how much that will mean to me.

So, this week, let’s sportingly suspend political hostilities, with no commentary on the G4S debacle, the shambolic closure of Westfield, empty seats or worries about the legacy.

Instead, let us celebrate the success of these Games and the roles we, in Newham, have played to ensure they showcase the very best of us.